Excuses are quietly destroying your potential... and most people don’t even realize it.

In this powerful episode, Mark Dulaney breaks down why we stay stuck, how our environment shapes our limits, and what it really takes to eliminate excuses and unlock growth. From sales and leadership to parenting and personal development, this conversation challenges the way you think about fear, opportunity, and success.

You’ll learn why we surround ourselves with people who keep us comfortable, how excuses are rooted in emotional protection, and why your future depends on the risks you’re willing to take today.

This isn’t motivation—it’s a wake-up call.

🔥 Key Topics:
• Why excuses are the most expensive habit you have
• Comfort zones vs. growth environments
• The power of association (who you surround yourself with)
• Fear, rejection & emotional protection
• Sales mindset: risk vs. opportunity thinking
• Parenting, leadership & shaping potential
• Eliminating excuses to unlock success

If you’re ready to stop playing small and start taking control—this episode is for you.

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro & feeling stuck / overwhelmed
06:00 Struggling with consistency, faith & unfinished goals
12:00 Why you must stop chasing perfection and just publish
18:00 Where excuses come from (childhood & emotional protection)
24:00 Fear, past experiences & self-imposed limitations
30:00 Parenting, environment & how people limit your potential
36:00 Comfort zones, associations & missed life opportunities
42:00 Sales mindset, risk vs opportunity & decision making
48:00 Identity, purpose, wiring & using your unique strengths
54:00 Cancer journey, accountability & eliminating excuses (68-day challenge)

👇 If This Resonates
If something in this conversation hits, let us know in the comments.
What was your biggest takeaway?

And if you want more conversations like this:
👍 Like the video
🔔 Subscribe for more
📤 Share it with someone who needs to hear this

More Free Resources
Want to close more deals without scripts or pressure? Book a Clarity Call with Mark Gambale: https://www.closewith1.com/contact

Podcast On
YouTube |   • Built On Trust with Mark Gambale 
Apple Podcasts | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6YnM82b...

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Instagram |   / closewithone 
Facebook |  

Fear of sales? You’re not alone—and you’re doing it wrong.

In this episode of Close With One, Mary Browning breaks down how to win trust fast, ditch the “salesy” stigma, and close high-value deals without pressure tactics.

🎯 Learn how to:
• Nail the first 30 seconds of any sales call
• Build instant trust (without sounding like a robot)
• Stay confident—even in long, complex deals
• Turn prospects into people who want to buy from you

Whether you’re new to sales or chasing your biggest deal yet, these 3 game-changing strategies will transform how you sell.
If you’re tired of being ignored, ghosted, or feeling pushy—this is for you.

🔥 Key Topics:
• Why excuses are the most expensive habit you have
• Comfort zones vs. growth environments
• The power of association (who you surround yourself with)
• Fear, rejection & emotional protection
• Sales mindset: risk vs. opportunity thinking
• Parenting, leadership & shaping potential
• Eliminating excuses to unlock success

If you’re ready to stop playing small and start taking control—this episode is for you.

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro – Fear of Not Closing Deals & First 30 Seconds in Sales
4:30 How Trust Is Built in the First Moments of a Sales Call
9:00 Mary Browning’s Journey Into Cold Calling & Early Career Start
13:30 First Sales Calls, Nervousness & Learning Through Experience
18:00 Becoming Data-Driven & Understanding What Actually Works
22:30 Why Most Sales & Marketing Campaigns Fail Without a Framework
27:00 Rethinking Sales Strategy & Accelerating Revenue Growth
31:30 Why Mary Chose Sales & Finding Her Own Authentic Style
36:00 Confidence in Sales: Moving From Copying to Authentic Selling
42:00 Self-Awareness, Legacy, and The Human Side of Sales Leadership

👇 If This Resonates
If something in this conversation hits, let us know in the comments.
What was your biggest takeaway?

And if you want more conversations like this:
👍 Like the video
🔔 Subscribe for more
📤 Share it with someone who needs to hear this

More Free Resources
Want to close more deals without scripts or pressure? Book a Clarity Call with Mark Gambale: https://www.closewith1.com/contact

Podcast On
YouTube |   • Built On Trust with Mark Gambale 
Apple Podcasts | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6YnM82b...

Close With 1 Socials
Instagram |   / closewithone 
Facebook |  

Most CFOs know finance. Very few know how to actually grow companies.

In this episode of the Closed With One Podcast, Mark sits down with a veteran CFO and business growth strategist, Paul Whitely who shares how he helped scale companies from $6M to $180M, built billion-dollar lending portfolios, and survived the 2008 financial crisis while rebuilding his career from the ground up.

This conversation dives into leadership, authentic sales, company culture, faith-driven business, and the lessons he learned from rebuilding after massive financial setbacks.

If you’re a CEO, founder, CFO, entrepreneur, or sales leader trying to scale your business without losing your values, this episode will change how you think about growth, leadership, and service.

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:42 Discovering C12 & Building Executive Networks
2:15 Scaling CPA Firms & Helping Businesses Grow
4:13 Growing Companies From $14M to $80M+
5:16 Surviving the 2008 Financial Crisis & Hedge Fund Collapse
6:16 Entering the Fractional CFO World
7:07 The Vision Behind the “Closed With One” Podcast
10:20 From CFO to CEO: Scaling a Company From $6M to $180M
16:56 Why Most CFOs Struggle With Sales & Personal Branding
19:38 Faith, Nonprofits, Mission Work & Building Company Culture

#FractionalCFO #BusinessGrowth #CEO #Leadership #Entrepreneur #SalesLeadership #BusinessPodcast #ScalingBusiness #CompanyCulture #Finance #ExecutiveLeadership #podcaster

Tyler Cerny went from struggling to say his own name as a kid to becoming an award-winning keynote speaker with a TEDx talk that has been viewed over 2.5 million times. In this raw and honest conversation, Tyler shares the experiences that shaped him — childhood obesity, a speech impediment, being the "black sheep" of his family — and how each of those so-called disadvantages became the foundation for a career built entirely on communication. He also opens up about his faith, the power of tithing, and why he believes helping the next generation find their purpose is the most important legacy anyone can leave.
The conversation gets into the real mechanics of building trust in sales and relationships — the Socratic method, active listening, asking questions that go deeper than surface-level answers, and why understanding someone's belief system matters far more than having a polished script. Tyler draws on his experience running over a thousand strategy sessions alongside Tony Robbins to break down what it actually takes to diagnose someone's situation and genuinely serve them, not just close them.
Key takeaways:

Childhood struggles with obesity and a speech impediment became the driving force behind Tyler's obsession with communication
Putting yourself in uncomfortable situations — like attending a conference alone — accelerates growth faster than waiting until you feel ready
Asking great open-ended questions is the foundation of every meaningful sales conversation and relationship
The Socratic method: go deeper than the surface-level answer to understand what someone actually wants and why
Active listening means responding to what was said, not running through a predetermined script
Understanding a prospect's belief systems and values lets you tailor your message to what truly matters to them
Long-term relationship thinking beats transactional selling every time
Tithing and contributing to causes you believe in creates a mindset shift that changes how you show up in business
Tyler's personal cause: childhood obesity awareness and education around healthy relationships with food

Connect with Tyler Cerny:
linkedin.com/in/tylercerny
instagram.com/tylerdcerny
tylercerny.com

If this episode resonated with you, subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find these conversations.

Paul Whitley built a remarkable career through servant leadership and systematic sales processes. After childhood polio left him immobilized at five, Paul developed mental discipline that shaped his professional approach. He climbed from Montgomery Ward auditor at 20 to managing $1.2 billion portfolios through automated marketing systems that contacted 20,000 companies monthly. When a hedge fund collapsed in 2008, costing him millions, Paul rebuilt through fractional CFO work, creating C-Suite Support with 12 employees serving 50+ companies. His secret: listening more than talking, always bringing three solutions for every problem, and maintaining faith-based integrity through every transaction.

Paul shares how he grew a furniture company from $6 million to $180 million, produced $100 million annually in new business for 15 years, and why today's sales measurement focuses on relationship depth over transaction speed. His systematic approach combines automated outreach with genuine service, proving that integrity and scale aren't mutually exclusive. From reviewing 1,000+ financial statements monthly to mentoring his eight-year-old grandson weekly, Paul demonstrates how humble gratitude and accountability partnerships drive sustainable success in both business and life.

16:40Key Takeaways:
The power of systematic sales processes - How Paul contacted 20,000 companies monthly through automated marketing while maintaining personal relationships
Why listening beats talking - The two-thirds listening rule that builds trust and uncovers real client needs
Always bring three solutions - Never present a problem without offering multiple pathways to resolution
Building resilience through adversity - How childhood polio and foster care experiences shaped unshakeable work discipline
The fractional advantage - Why having multiple clients creates stability and eliminates revenue cliffs in professional services
Integrity-based selling at scale - Combining automation with genuine service and faith-based business practices
From loss to legacy - Rebuilding after losing millions in the 2008 hedge fund collapse through servant leadership
The importance of accountability partnerships - Starting every day with an accountability partner to maintain focus and gratitude

Want to connect with Paul and C-Suite Support? Reach out to discuss fractional CFO services, business development strategies, or financial transformation.
Connect with Paul Whitley:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 214-477-6039
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/paulwhitley
Website: c-suitesupport.com

Connect with me here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markgambale/
Website -  https://www.closewith1.com/

Listen to Close with One on these platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YnM82bUBndulsQYNWxnqH
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/close-with-one/id1835880959
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a59e222b-4c6a-4506-b1f7-f942e703241e

#closewithone #podcast #newseries #entrepreneur #balancingtech #tech #humaninteraction

I really enjoyed this episode with Matt Dunsmoor. His story takes us from small-town roots in Pueblo, Colorado to becoming one of the leading voices on purpose-driven leadership, working alongside Simon Sinek, and now co-authoring a book that helps leaders build workplaces people actually love.
Matt shares how a forbidden philosophy class cracked open his thinking, how answering phones at Zappos reshaped his belief in trust and optimism, and how one workshop on “finding your why” changed the trajectory of his career. That moment led him into a lifelong mission: helping leaders and teams embody the principles of curiosity, authenticity, care, gratitude, and ownership so they can create cultures where people thrive instead of burn out.
Be sure to like and subscribe, and leave a comment to share how you’re cultivating trust and connection in your own work. These episodes reveal the untold stories—the missed moments, quiet breakthroughs, and defining choices that shape leaders who care about something bigger than profit. And every episode includes a giveback component.
In this episode, we talk about sales, leadership, and what it means to build human-focused organizations. Matt explains why most “inspiring” keynotes fade without action, how to shift from transactional calls to real trust in minutes, and why living your values at work is the antidote to disconnection and burnout. He also breaks down the five embodiments from his upcoming book—practical guideposts for anyone who wants to lead with impact that lasts.
This one’s for founders, sales leaders, and coaches who want to unlock high-performing teams by leading with purpose and presence—and for anyone who believes that the workplace can and should be a place where we become better versions of ourselves.

Connect with me here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markgambale/
Website -  https://www.closewith1.com/

Listen to Close with One on these platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YnM82bUBndulsQYNWxnqH
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/close-with-one/id1835880959
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a59e222b-4c6a-4506-b1f7-f942e703241e

#closewithone #podcast #newseries #entrepreneur #balancingtech #tech #humaninteraction

In this episode of the Close With One Untold Sales Stories podcast, Mark Gambale interviews Lord Luke Hammond about his journey in sales, emphasizing the importance of trust, spontaneity, and emotional intelligence in building effective sales relationships. The conversation explores the challenges faced by salespeople, the impact of remote work on engagement techniques, and the significance of personal stories in connecting with clients. The episode also highlights the role of leadership in creating a safe environment for open communication and the importance of connecting with causes that resonate personally.

Connect with me here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markgambale/
Website -  https://www.closewith1.com/

Listen to Close with One on these platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YnM82bUBndulsQYNWxnqH
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/close-with-one/id1835880959
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a59e222b-4c6a-4506-b1f7-f942e703241e

#closewithone #podcast #newseries #entrepreneur #balancingtech #tech #humaninteraction

I really enjoyed this episode with Thomas Cox. His story is a masterclass in personal transformation and the power of emotional intelligence in sales.

Thomas shares how he went from sounding like one of the adults in a Charlie Brown cartoon—overly measured and robotic—to becoming a more emotionally present and effective communicator. What changed? Improv theater. Meditation. Deep self-reflection. He stopped trying to control the outcome and started showing up with calm curiosity and empathy.

Be sure to like and subscribe, and leave a comment to share how you're navigating today’s sales challenges as a CEO, founder, or sales leader. These episodes reveal the stories behind the success—the messy, untold moments that shape people with purpose beyond profit. And each episode has a giveback component.

In this episode, we dive into sales, communication, and what it really means to connect as a human being. Thomas explains how fear can distort your natural strengths, how journaling can help you reclaim your presence, and how to position your product in a way that maps to how customers actually make decisions.

This conversation is for anyone who wants to sell with more empathy, clarity, and trust—and who believes that being human is still your greatest sales advantage.

Connect with Thomas here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasbcox/

Give back legacy foundation - https://www.autismspeaks.org/resource-guide

Connect with me here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markgambale/
Website -  https://www.closewith1.com/

Listen to Close with One on these platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YnM82bUBndulsQYNWxnqH
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/close-with-one/id1835880959
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a59e222b-4c6a-4506-b1f7-f942e703241e

#closewithone #podcast #newseries #entrepreneur #balancingtech #tech #humaninteraction

I really enjoyed this episode with Steve Morris. He's got over 5 years of experience at EOS Worldwide. Steve implements the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS) to help entrepreneurs get what they want from their businesses. EOS is a complete proven operating system that harnesses human energy—delivering better results for businesses and more fulfilling lives for the people who run them.
Be sure to like and Subscribe and add your comments to spread the word on how people are dealing with today's sales challenges as CEOs of growing companies. They share their untold stories and the purpose deeper than the profits they drive and how that fuels their success. Each episode has a giveback component. 
In this episode we talk about topics related to sales, communication, and human connection. Steve shares insights from his background in engineering and boat design, drawing parallels between the dynamic balance required in sailing and the nuances of effective sales conversations. The discussion touches on the challenges of navigating an increasingly technology-driven world while maintaining the importance of genuine human-to-human interaction. 
Steve and Mark explore the value of being "enrolled" in one's work, the power of storytelling, and the evolving role of AI in various industries. Overall, this episode emphasizes the enduring need for empathy, trust, and a willingness to adapt in order to forge meaningful connections, even as the landscape of communication continues to evolve.

Connect with Steve: - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenamorris
Give back legacy foundation - https://www.slowfooddenver.org/give

Connect with me here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markgambale/
Website -  https://www.closewith1.com/

Watch Close with One on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/pjB4RDWFAbo

I really enjoyed this episode with Mark Griffin. His journey from being a bullied school kid to leading the U.S. national rugby team against England, founding a nonprofit that brought rugby to 15,000 students, and being honored by the Queen of England is nothing short of extraordinary.
Mark shares how one childhood moment of standing up for himself changed the trajectory of his life—and how that spark led him to build Play Rugby USA, a nonprofit that uses sport to teach leadership, purpose, and belonging to underserved youth. Later, his passion for human performance evolved into founding PurposeFused, a company that helps leaders and teams unlock their best selves by connecting personal passion to meaningful impact.
Be sure to like and subscribe, and leave a comment to share how you’re showing up with purpose in your work and life. These episodes reveal the untold stories—the childhood moments, quiet breakthroughs, and defining choices that shape CEOs and leaders who care about something bigger than profit. And every episode includes a giveback component.
In this episode, we talk about sales, leadership, and the deeper meaning of performance. Mark explains the difference between role and purpose, the dangers of burnout, and why so many people never access their full potential at work. He also breaks down his framework for helping people reconnect with their “whole self” so they can elevate performance across every sphere of life—self, family, work, community, and beyond.
This one’s for founders, sales leaders, and coaches who want to build high-performing teams rooted in trust, purpose, and aligned energy—and for anyone who believes that living your legacy starts long before your final chapter.

Connect with Mark here -https://www.linkedin.com/in/markgriffinpurposefused/
Give back legacy foundation - PlayRugbyUSA.org - http://playrugbyusa.org/
Connect with me here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markgambale/
Website -  https://www.closewith1.com/

#closewithone #podcast #newseries #entrepreneur #livinglegacy #legacy